As yesterday was Valentine’s day, it is appropriate timing that new research has recently emerged on the possible benefits of chocolate (cake) to a dieter!
This is, of course, the news we have all been waiting for. But is it actually true?
The study was conducted by Tel Aviv University, and divided subjects into 2 groups of overweight people– one group being put on a diet which included a low carbohydrate breakfast, and the other group being asked to eat breakfast which included chocolate cake. Both groups consumed the same amount of calories over the course of the day. The results showed that the cake-eating group lost a total of 40 lbs more than the low-carb group overall. The latter reported they felt less full. The cake-eating group had fewer – if any – cravings for sweet foods later in the day.
Now I have to say that I would approach these results with caution, because I myself have experimented an enormous amount with weight-loss diets over the years, and I know for sure that on occasions when I had started eating something ‘sweet’ early on, I then couldn’t stop eating it for the rest of the day! So, if I indulged in any ‘treats’ at all during the diet, they were reserved for only very occasional use and certainly later in the day. ( I have since found other ways to help deal with sweet cravings anyway, and I no longer eat anything containing sugar. More on that another time).
Every individual has a different metabolism however, and it may be that something else affected the results in the above study. I did notice that the study was reported in a journal called ‘Steroids’, so it is highly possible that there were other factors involved in the weight loss achieved.
This is another good example of the reasons for being careful to examine results of research studies which we are bombarded with from all sides. It is very important to look at *who* conducted the study and what their motives might be, and therefore where they will place the emphasis of the results.
Have you found eating sweet things early in the day helps your cravings or exacerbates them?
Then, if your craving for chocolate cake is too great and demands being given in to, but you are trying to stay healthy at the same time, check out this wonderful recipe book which uses hidden vegetable ingredients to boost the nutritional value of the cake and cuts down some of the undesirable ingredients.
I know that I’ve recommended the book in this blog before, but it is stunning visually, totally mouth-watering, and really does warrant a look.
